Inter Milan`s participation in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup has ended. Although their elimination, following a 2-0 defeat to Fluminense in the Round of 16, is disappointing, this exit allows the Italian club a necessary break after a remarkably long 2024-25 campaign. The final weeks of this season were filled with setbacks. It feels like a distant memory since Inter secured a thrilling 4-3 victory in the Champions League semifinal second leg against Barcelona. Subsequently, despite that earlier success, the Nerazzurri failed to win the 2024-25 Serie A title, which went to Napoli (their 4th Scudetto), suffered a crushing 5-0 loss in the UEFA Champions League final against PSG, and underwent a change in management. The club and former coach Simone Inzaghi mutually agreed to part ways after four years, leading to the appointment of Cristian Chivu, a former player, club legend, and member of the 2010 Champions League-winning squad.
The choice of Chivu raised some eyebrows and doubts, but the club sought a young coach with experience developing talent within their own youth system, where Chivu had worked from 2018 to 2024. His senior coaching experience was limited, with just 13 Serie A matches at Parma (three wins, seven draws, three defeats) before taking the Inter job. This appointment was clearly a calculated risk, driven by the desire for a manager capable of nurturing young prospects. Inter has already made signings aligning with this vision, bringing in players like Croatian midfielder Petar Sucic, Brazilian winger Luis Henrique, and French striker Ange-Yoan Bonny from Parma. Additionally, they have recalled players from loan spells, such as promising Italian forward Francesco Pio Esposito, who impressed at the World Cup and scored a crucial late goal against River Plate in the group stage.
Player departures are also expected, with growing speculation linking midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu to Galatasaray. As Inter embarks on this new managerial era, a period of rest is crucial. The team`s performances in the four Club World Cup matches indicated clear mental fatigue ahead of preseason training later in July. The significant disappointments in both the Champions League and Serie A took a toll, and the Club World Cup participation highlighted the squad`s need for downtime to recuperate, regroup, and prepare to implement new strategies and integrate new players under the new coach.
While the Club World Cup offered an initial opportunity for the team to work with the new coaching staff, comments made by Inter captain Lautaro Martinez to DAZN after the Fluminense loss strongly suggest changes are necessary this summer. He stated:
`The message has to be unambiguous: those committed to staying should remain, and those who aren`t should depart. I`m here to compete for significant achievements. This club crest carries immense weight, and that must be the guiding principle.`
These remarks appear directed not only externally but also internally towards his teammates.
The season concluded on a difficult note for both the squad and its supporters. It remains unclear how the disappointments of the 2024-25 campaign will impact the upcoming 2025-26 season. Players certainly require rest, but Lautaro`s comments serve as a strong signal to any teammates considering their future after several years at the club. Those who return after the break must be prepared to work even harder to turn a disappointing period into a new era of success for Inter, as overcoming the recent setbacks will require significant effort from everyone associated with the club.
